Circular-knitting machine.



A. GAGNE &'J. W. SHAW.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8,1910.

1,040, 1 83. Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. GAGNE & J. W. SHAW. CIRCULAR KNITTNG MAGHINE.

APPLICATION EILBD AUG. 8. 1910,

LS l 53W Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

6 SHEETS-"SHEET 2.

A. GAGNE'. 1 J. W. SHAW.

CIRCULAR KNITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8,1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L' en/1201.19; Jcyu/ s704202 Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

A. GAGNE & J. W. SHAW.

GIR

GULAE KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1910.

" j1 STATESy PATENT OFFICE.

. y AUGUSTIN GAGNE, F CENTRAL FALLS, AND JOHN W. SHAW, OF IPAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOBS-TO BLACXSTONE STOCKING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F RHODE ISLAND.

CIBCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

` Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

To all whom 'it may concern:l

Be it known that we, AUGUSTIN GaeN and J oiiN W. SHAW, residents, respectively, of Central Falls, county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, and of Pawtucket, county of Providence, State of Rhode I'sland, have invented an Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following descri tion, in connection withthe accompanying rawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. The present invention relates to a knitting machine, and is embodied in a novel construction and arrangement of the stitch forming cams, whereby twocourses are knit at each revolution; and also in novel means for selectively1 controlling the needles during the knitting of the heel and toe.

A further feature of the inventionrelates to means whereby the circular knit portion of the stockin can be composed of diiierent colored threa s such, for example as white and black, the foot of tlie 'stockin being preferabl the art whichj is'thus it so as to pr uce w at is known as a split ioot stocking.

'In carrying out the invention for the purpose' of producing a split foot stocking, the reciprocatin 'knitting operation which is utilized in orming the heel and toe is car` ried on throughout the' foot and the machine is provided with needle controllin devices and thread feeding mechanism which operate in such a way that substantially half the needles will knit a thread of one color, while the other half of the needles knit a thread of another color. Forthis purpose, the long and short butt needles which are 'commonly employed so thathabi` of them can be thrown out of operation dur-y ing the knitting ofthe'heel andtoe, are similarly em loyed for the knitting ofthe foot,l thehdi erencegin the len h lof butts admitting of the selective operation whereby half the vneedlesf can be caused`tof on onethread, and ,ha1fon`the"other:f7" l In'order' to forxnythe stitch'aloiigthe'line' peratey where ,thecolor changes,` it i's necessaryvtq? are selectively operated upon by the switch the needles are employed as suture needles which operate on both threads in completing each course. The invention is shown as embodied in a machine of the type described in Letters Patent No. 629,503` dated July 25, 1899, to Joshua D. Hemphill, in which the consecutive removal and restoring of the short butt needles for narrowing and widening in lmitting the heel and toe are provided for by a picker finger which lies in the path of the lneedle butts so as to be engaged thereby and moved in the rotation of the cam cylinder along an inclined plane or cam surface so as to push the needles up or down according to a preliminary adjustment which is taken care of'by pattern mechanism; and the same picker finger is utilized to` cause the `operation of the suture needles.

The `machineembodying the invention is provided* with two main cams having stitch forming surfaces at the same sides in the direction ofjrotation' these cams being permanently fixed with -relation to the needle cylinderyso` that the stitch forming surfaces. are always in the path of the long and short butt needles and capable of operating on both. These two cams, which may be called the-main cam, because they are not at any time shifted from their original positions, are` provided at the sides opposite the stitch formin cam surfaces with switch cam surfaces which are adapted to operate selectively upon the lon and short butt needles when the direction of movement has been chan ed. During the circular knitting operation, therefore, these two main cams operate on all the needles, and a thread feed is provided adjacent to each ot the cams, so t at two courses are knit at each revolution.

The machine is further rovided with means` for changingthe leve of the short butt needles with relation to that of the long butt needles when the reciprocating movement begins, so that during the first moyement'of these main cams in the directionl opposite to that of the rotary knitting direction,"the'long and short butt needles camswhich are on different levels, the long butt"needles=being moved upward to an inare carried;overfonefof themain' cams,- but Arestored' to e; position 'to `be -acted upon by the stitch forming surface of the other main oam when-l'the-"direction-' 'ofmovement changes. In order, howeverpthat the shortbutt needles may be caused tolknit durin the movement in each direction, and to knit on the same thread, it is necessary that they should be acted upon by another stitch forming surface adjacent to the main cam where the thread guide is located, and that they should be carried, as above stated, ont .ofthe path of the stitch forming surface of the other main cam which is adjacent to the other thread guide. For this purpose, the machine is providedwith two supplemental shiftablecam's which lie adjacent to the two main cams, each being the same in shape and configuration as the main cam to which it is adjacent, but reversed as to the position of its stitch forming and switch cam surfaces. l

Durinii the knitting of the heel and toe, one of t ie :main cams and one of the su pleniental cams coperate in causing thje short butt needles.to,knit, and in maintaining the long buttneedlesin the inoperative position; while-,the other main cam. and the other supplemental lcam coperate in keeping all of theneedlesfabove the ,position in which they can be engaged by thestitch forming surfaces of, those cams.`

In employing the machineforknittinga so-ealled sp it foot stocking, a third pattern controlled switch canris employed, thisg cam being locatedfbetweerrthoseof thel main and i sonof the other...l

' threadsl at mach. operation armprovided' with.v longibatts and are-located at the ends of supplemental. cams which are-inactive during the knitting of the heell and toe,. and being so ositioned as to .engage the long butt nee eson1y and to cause them to be placed in aposition to be engaged by the stitch forming surfaces ofthe, aforesaid cams at eachreciprocating movement.y Durin the knitting of the foot, therefore, where di ercnt coloredthreads are employed, the short butt needlesare acted. upon by one of the main and one of thesu plemental cams while the long butt need es are operated ii on by the other mainand` the-other. supp emcntal cam` the threadl guides, as previously stated, being located one 'betweenone main andn onesupplemental cam, and.' the other between theothermain and the other supplemental cam.. For knitting thefoot in yarns'of different colors two thread guides are employed. adjacent `to one. pair. lof cams, said-guides'carryin ,threads of ditferentcol.- ors, ,and bein shi table imposition, i891 that either. .can yde 'ver its`| thread' to-v. the' exelu,

. i 1.. "tuut-wit, The sutureneedles. which. operate fon boththe groupofloag butt needles, and are,

therefore` brought at the end of each reciprocation into engagement with the picker finger which operates in the usual way during the widening and narrowing, and are thereby drawn down so as to engage the stitch forming surfaces of the main and supplemental cams which operate during this period upon the short butt needles.

A very neat seam is formed where the different threads adjoin by using one needle only to act at each operation on both threads, and in view of the fact that, in the Hemphill machine the picker finger is so ad'iisted as to act on two needles at once in bringing them down into the path of the cams, a special needle having a thickened butt is employed at each end of the line of lon butt needles, so that the picker finger willg act on that needle only, instead of on two adjacent needles.

In cases where it is desired to make the seam with a line of white stitches in the black, and a line of black stitches in the white, one of the long butt needles can be inter osed between the last two short butt need es at each end of the line thereof, the inter osed needle being the o'ne, in this case, whic acts on both threads` being moved into the path of the short buttl needle cam by the picker fin er.- I

Figure l. is an e evation partly in section, of a machine embodying the invention, with the main supporting base omitted; Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, taken on a plane at a right angle to that of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an elevationof the machine taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. l isa plan view, partly in section; Fig. 5 is a similar plan view showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 6 isa developed view ofA the cam-ring, showing the position of the needles during the circular knitting operation' Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, et the parts shown in Fig. 7; Figs, 8 andi) are views correspondinf to Figs. 6 and7, showing the position of t ie needles relative to-the cams during the two-color or split foot knitting. Figs. 10 and 11 are views 4corresponding to- Figs. 8 and 9, but

showing the cam ring. as having traveled a abovecite,d the needles-being contained in verticah .ooves formed in the outside of a needle Ander 1,.the.said:needles consisting of long utt needles 2 and short butt needles '3, the long butt needles occupying subst-anstated, the invention is i tially one-hall of the needle cylinder, and the short butt needles occupying the other half.

In the preferred construction shown in the plan view (Fig. 4L) the last long butt needle each end of the row is sepcial needle provided with a wide butt, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described 1n connection with the descriptifn of the operation of the picker in forming the socalled split foot. The machine is provided with a rotatable Cain -ring e whim'i is cams to operate on the hui'ts oi the. nee les, the said ring heing mounted and constructed substantially asin the Hemphill machine, and arranged to he given a rotary or reciprocating movement through gear Wheel '5 which is mounted on a shaft- 6 which is arranged to he rotated or rcciprocated through the agency of gears 7 and 8 which are free to rotate on the shaft but are adapted to he connected one at a time With the shaft through the agency of a sliding clutch member t). The gear S is provided with a driving pulley and is continually in mesh with. a rotating gear 10 having a hearing at 12, Fig. The other gear 7 is inniesh With a reciprocating segment 13 pivoted at 14 and connected through a link. 15 with a Wrist pin 16 on the gear 10. The gear 8 and the gear 10 arerotated continuously while the machine is in operation. and the gear 7 is reciprocated continuously through the segment 13, so that hy shifting the clutch 9, the sha tt and the cam ring fl' Will he rotated or reciprocated in response to the movement ot' the. gear to which it is clutched. The alcove construction is substantially the same as that descriled in the Hemphill patent alcove cited. and does not enter into the present invention. For the circular knitting operation, the machine is provided with the main cams 1 7 and 19 which are fixed with rela-tion to the needle cylinder and are positioned thatfduring the rotary knit operation the left hand stitch forming surfaces of these cams operate on all the needles, clearly shown in Fig. @so as to knit two courses at revolution.

`.Xdyacnt to the cams 17 and 1t) are thread nidos, the thread guide 4f) being located the cam 19. `while the two thread guides 50 and 51, which are able ot being shifted sothat threads of different colors can be delivered to the nee lies at that point. are .located near the cani 17. ln the normal operation. during the rotary knittingl which forms the ieg of the stocking, threads of the sante colorare delivered through the thread guides. so that the leg is of one color throughout. During the knitting of the heel and toe, the short hutt needles only are eniployed, and the long butt needles are put out oit operation at this time through the agency of switch cam surfaces formed on the main of the position of the switch an u knitting cams, in conjunction with similar switch cam surfaces formed on supplemental cams 18 and 2O which, at this period of thc operation, are moved toward the needle cylinder so as to engage the needle/s as the cam ring reciprocates.

The machine is Jfurther provided with means for changing the level of one set ot needles With relation to that of the other at this period in the operation, so that the switch cams which are associated with the stitch t'orining cams are capable of operating selectively on the long and short butt needles. r

As shown in Fig. 6, the inclined planes formed in the cam ring up which the needles ride after they have been drawn down by the stitch forming cams, terminate in a ledge, a portion otl which always underlies the butts of the long butt needles, there being, however, a secondary portion indicated by the referencenumeral 253, which is ont. away to allow the short "Jutt needles to remain at a lower level duringl the travel of the ring. 1n the rot: ry knitting operation, the short huttneedlcs guir -d to the upper level by .means of an elevating switch 252, the inclined surface ct which projects across the cut portion. of the ledge and extends upivard to Athe top ot said ledge. When, however, the change is' to he made from rotary to reciprocating knitting, the said switch 252 is Withdrawn or lowered. as shown in Fig. 8, and the short butt needles, in the final movement of the ring. are only carried to the level of the portion ol the ledge, so that they stand slightly below the level ot the long butt needles which .are rarried upward to the upper level regardless l'tlhen. therefore, the cam ring starts in the di* rection opposite tothat indicated hy the arrow in Figs. 6 and S, the long` butt needles ride over the switch cam surtace 170 ot the main cam 17, while the short butt needles pass under the said surface, as indicated in Fig. '12, the cam 17 having an inclined re cess 171 `and being spring pressed against the needle cylinder so that it can yield and allow the short butt needles to. pass across its face Without being moved away from the level in which ,they stand (see Fig. 12). This operation carries the long butt needles entirely above the stitch forming cams, but the short butt needles are brought into engagement with the stitch forming surfacel 188 ot the adjacent supplemental cam 18, as shown 1n Fig. 12, so that they are caused to knitdurlng that movement o the cam ring.

Vheu the cam ring moves in the opposite direction, the short butt needles travel across the tace of the supplemental cam 18, and are caused to knit through the operation lofthe stitch iornnng cam surface 17?,of themainA cam 17. Throughout this part of the opensthe way by the earn surlaces 170 of the main example, ythe :toot is to be black and white,

tion there is nothing in the path ot the long butt needles which are moved upward ont et cam 1T as the cani rinrbr travels in onedirection, and by the cani surface 200 et the snppleniental cam Q0 as the cani ring travels in the opposite direction, so that they are rendered inoperative, is usual in this type et machine.

ln order to prevent the main cam. 19 and the supplemental. cam from operatingon the short butt needles during this part ot the operation, said cams are provided with switch cam surfaces 191 and Q03, respectively, which are below the switch cam surfaces which act upon the long` butt needles, but lie in the path oi the short hutt needles. These surfaces lift the short butt needles so that. they pass over the stitch-ftorining cams, as shown in Fig. 10, and are restored to. their lower level Where they will he properly acted upon by the cams 17 and 18, by theunder surfaces ot the long-butt switch cams 190 and 200. During this part of the operation, the picker nger 9S acts in the normal Way upon the short butt needles for the narrowing and Widening. lVhen the split loot is to be knit, it necessary to bring the long butt needles into operation ani to cause these needles to operate on one thread while the short butt needles operate on anotherthread. It, for

the thread guides 50 and 51 are'shifted so that the white thread, for example, isy deliver-ed to the `short butt needles in placeV et the hlaek thread which was employed in knittingr the double course leg. At the same time,` the thread guide 119, which is' arranged to deliver a black thread remains in position, and it is only necessary to bring the other set ot needle that is, the long hutt needles, into operation to knit the other thread in the loot. 'lo operate the long ibutt needles, the main cam 19 and the supplemental cam 2O are employed, the operation being as follows: As previously described, the long butt needles, up to this period, hare remained at the upper lerel Without movement curing the knitting or' Athe heel which is accomplished' by the action oit the short butt needles only. To bring the said long butt needles into operation during the llr-.r'xitting oitl the toot, a supplemental cam Il() having inclined surfaces 301 (Fig. S) is employed, the said cam being moved inward toward the"eain ring a distance suilieient to engage the long butts, but not to engage the short butts which travel across the face ot said cam7 as clearly shown in 8 and 10. ln the reciprocating movement of the cam ring, there?. tore,f the long butt needles which stand at the level shown in the middle part 4o't Fie'.` 12, areengaged by the surface S01 and car! l ried downward thereby to a position where out being affected by the cams 19 and 20 because they travel across the saine, heinf; cleared by the surfaces 191 andL 203, and not being aieeted, by the cam surtaees 1301. ,ln vthe saine way, the long; butt needles are car ried upward to 'the top oit the cam led that the ride over the switch cani su 180 and 170, according),` to the direction of movement. and are, theretca not acted upon ley the stitch forming cams l? und 1S. The suture needle or needles, however, which operate twice, Ythat is, once on each thread at every course, are acted upon at this period by the picker linger, as clearly shoirn in 'lO and 11. ils will be seen trein these figures the last needle in the line ol long butt needles engaged by the picker linger and drawn down thereby, so that it joins the short butt needles in their knitting operation, as clearly indicated in Fig. 10. The suture needle, however, at the end of this single operation, is restored to its normal level, because its butt projects over the top ot the ledge,regardless of the position of the switch, 252, thereby being placed in position to operate normally when il reaches the main and supplemental cams i9 and 20.

The pat-tern n'leehanism which controls the operation oil the ,supplemental cams 18 and 2O maybe described as follows: A stationary cam surface Q1 is mounted on the frame of the machine and is capable of standing in two lhorizontal planes, boinar shifted tronrone `to the other through the uaction et the pattern mechanism w hich will he hereinafter more `fully described. This cam. lies in the path'of a lever having three arms Q2, Q3, 24, the-arm 2.2 being connected with a slide rwhich has upon it two cam sui-:taces .26 and l2T whichact on projections 181', 201, connected with guides forthe cams 1S and '20, which cams are normally Springpressed toward the needle cylinder by means oit spiral springs 182, 202. At the time of the shift from circular knitting to`recipro--. cat-ing knitting, the cam surface 21 is moved downward into the path of a projection on the"` arm Qd, Y so that the saidprojection strilres the cam surface and is moved from the pe'ition shown in Fig. 4; to the position shown, in Fig. 5, earryinyg; with it the slide 25, and releasing the cams 1S and 20, and the projections which control 1them slide down the inclined surfaces 26 and 27 in the member 25 allowing the cams to come into close proximity with the needle cylinder so as to act on the needles, as hereinbefore described. l

The shift-ing cam 1S is substantially the saine as the shifting cam shown in the Hemphill patentabove referred to, the said cam and t-he cam 17 having upper inclined surfaces 1:30 and 170, respectively, which engage the long butt needles during the reciprocating operation, and move them upward to the position shown in Fig. 8, so that they are not engaged by the cam surfaces 183 and 173. ln this way, the long butt needles are put out of operation during that portion of the reciprocating knitting which forms the heel and toe. The same cams, however, are caused to operate upon the short butt needles so as to cause them to knit during this part of the operation. Vhen the shift is made from the circular knitting to the reciprocating knitting, the switch 252 is lowered, as shown in Fig. S, so that the short butt needles fa do not run above the level of a supplen'iental ledge 250, and are, therefore, slightly below the cam surfaces 170 and 180 which operate on the long butt needles.

ln order to permit the short butt needles to pass the cams 17 and 1.8, the said cams provided with recesses 174 and 184 hav- 'nclined walls which engage the ends of 'i short butts whereby the cams are pushed out of the way against the stress of the cam syn'ings shown. in Fig. 7, thus allowing the -'horl butts to pass behind one cam and be engaged by the knitting cam surface of the other, according to the direction in which the cam ringl is inbred. The cams 19 and 2O do not enter into this part of the operation at all since thc long butt needles stand wholly above thesfA cams. while the short buit needlesr are iuftcd upon by the upper cznu surfaces 1M and L03, and thereby caused lo clear the knitting cam surfaces below. After Nwearilml tlusc surfaces, the short butt needles are .rc ered to position to be acted on bv the crirs 17 und 1S through the attent-y of ille under surfaces i the cani projet nous 1.9i? and E200. The short butt needles then continue to knit at each reciprocating movement of the cylinder iu the usual way.

the cam 8l) is shown as mounted on the end of a rod 31 ha '51g a bearing in a block if? on thc min ring. there. being a spring interposed between the bearing and the cam tendiinl 'n press the said cam into its operative position with relation to the needle cylinder. The law-ing member is provided atitC outer end with two projections 34 which iwf-'divorato vviih a rotary cam member i5 haviingid': p cani ggjroo. B6 (Fig. :3) and sl1al lor crn grooves 37.. Fig. 4, at a right angle 'ihe cani rod 251 projects tl'iroiigh member 35 and is provided with a head or shoulder 3S at its outer end, so that the spring 33 tends to hold the cam member in engagement with the cani projections 34. It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 hat if the cam member is rotated a quarter turn, it vvill be pulled outward througl the operation of the cam surfaces 36, from the position shown in Fig. l, to that shown in Fig. 5, after which it will be held by the shallow cam grooves Thus, a quarter turn of the cam member 35 will withdraw the cam 30 from its operative position vvliile another quarter turn will restore it thereto. In order to operate the cam, therefore, the cam member 85 is provided with four radial arms 39 any one of which` is adapted to be engaged by a movable projection 40 shown as a finger mounted on an arm pivoted at l1 on the frame-of the machine, and connected by means of a link 42 with a lever 4:3 pivoted at 4-1 and connected through a link 45 with a lever 46 (see Fig. 1) Ipivoted at 47. The said lever engages at its lower end with a cam wheel 4S which is under the control of the pattern chain, as will be hereinafter described, the said cam wheel being adapted to make a portion of the rotation at the right time so as to oscillate the lever 4G and move the linger 40 into and out of the path of one of the radial arms 39, on the cam member The operations of the machine, as thus far described, will be best understood by reference to Figs. G to 13. Referring lo Fig. 6, which indicates the cam ring and the needles in their positions relative to each other during the ordinary circular knitting operation, the long butt needles 2 andthe short butt needles 3 are shown as standing at substantially t-he same level, and being lowered and raised to perform the knitting operation byv the stitch forming cam surfaces of the main cams 17 and 19, as they travel coi'itinuonsly, in the direction of the arrow. The thread guides 19, 50 and. 51 are carried by the cam ring and located, as shown in Fig. 6, adjacent to the knitting cams, the guides 49 and 50 being arranged to carry threads of the same color, the guide 51, which carries the thread of another color, being withdrawn from the path of the needles during the circular knitting operation. 'With the leg of the stocking being knit in a solid color, therefore, the knitting is carried on simultaneously attwo po-ints, so that two courses are knit at each revolution. Then the shift is to be made int-o the heel, the thread guide 50 is withdrawn, and the thread guide 51 moved into position to deliver the thread of another color, preferably white, the shift at the same time being made from the circular to the reciprocating operation of the cam ring, as previously described. At the same time, the supplemental cams 18 and 20 are allowed tomove toward the needle cylinder normal knitting operation through the aotion of the cam 19, and with the others has been thrown upward 'out of the path of the short butt knitting cam 17, by means of the clearing cam surface 180. It is, however, engaged, as shown, by the picker finger which travels with the cam ring, and `in arresting the movement of the picker finger carries the said linger down the cam surface '280, t-he linger thus drawing the needle 2a down to the level of the short butt needles as shown in Fig. l0 so that it will knit therewith under the influence of the cam i7. The long butt needle at the opposite end will be operated in the same way during the movement in the reverse direction and brought into engagement with the stitch forming surface of the supplemental cam 1S, so that a double stitch is formed where the two threads adjoin, making a perfect union between the two.

The cam wheel t8, through which the cam 30 is operated, is also arranged to operate the knitting cams 1S and 2t), and for this purpose is provided with a cam surface 52, adapted to operate on' one end of the lever 53, pivoted at 54, the other end of said lever supporting a rod 55, to the upper end of which is fastened the cam surface 2l.

The shifting of the various cams above described is accomplished through the agency of the pattern chain 56 which is operated by ay ratchet 57 and pawl carried by the segment member 13, these parts being omitted from Fig.' 3, since they form no part of the present invention and would rend to obscure the new parts which are best shown in that ligure. The pattern chain is substantially like that used in the prior Hemphill construction having at proper intervals cani projections 59 which operate upon the lever GO, having a surface (Sl which non mallj' supports the pawl (i2 reciprocated b v the segment member 123. out of engagement with the teeth of the cani driving ratchet wheel G3. The said rat et wheel is adapted to operate a shiftino 'lcrnber 640 which operates the clinch in er 9 which has been previously descrita as operating to change the movement of 1. cui ring from resent construction, 'this change takes place only once during the` knittino' of a cori jlete stockine'. C D/ since the reciprocating movement of the cam ring is continued throughout the heel, foot and toe.

When the shift from circular to reciprocating'lniitt-ing is to take place, one of the lugs 59 will tip the lever G0, as best shown in Fig. 3, thus lowering the surface G1, so that the pawl 62 can operate the cam. dii-fing ratchet 63. Just before the shift to recipr., cating knitting', the knitting cams 1S and 20 are A1i-*ang d to be pushed into operative position, and this is accomplished by the cam surface 21 to drop and to operate the knitting cams i8 and 20, as previously described. The shift from rotary to reciprocating knitting produced, therefore, during the reciprocating' movement of the nien1- ber 13 in one direction, while the cams 18 and 20 are operated through the reciprocating movement thereof in the opposite direction.

The additional cam 30 which has been previoufli` described as adapted to control the long nutt needles during the knitting of the foot, remains in its operative position throughout the knitting of the leg although it performs no function during that part of the operation and must be removed from the path of the long butt needles at the bcginning of the heel, restored at the end of the heel, and again moved out of the way at the beginning of the toe. The operation above described follows the shifhfrom ro tary to reciprocating knitting, and, for this purpose, the pattern chain is provided n ith additional projections 'I0 which are in a different plane from the projections 59, and arranged to engage a projection "il on the lever 72 pivoted at 7 The projection Tl lies under the end of the. lever 66, seth-at as the projection TO reaches the said projection 7l it will rock the lever 66 and lower the pawl G8, causing the lcv-cr 4G to operate in the manner previously described, so as to shift the cam 30.

rlhe needle-level controlling switch is controlled simultaneously with the supple mental cams 18 and 20, through the agency ol" the slide 25. As shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the said slide is provided with cam surface 251, which coiiperates .with a projection 254 from the switch. ment of the slide from the picV in Fig. 7 to the position shown in F ig. S), the projection rides down the inclincdcani surface, and the switch drops to the lower level. YVhe-n' the slide 25 moves in theI opposite direction to withdraw the supplemental cams, the switch 252 is lifted, so that all the needles rise to the same level.

that we claim is: y

l. ln a knitting machine, the combination with a' needle cylinder provided with a set of long butt needles and a set of short butt needles; of a cam ring; means for producing a rotary and reciprocating movement of said cam ring; a. main cam liked .ln the. more`- on, shown.

draw down a needle raised by the upper inelined surface of one of said cams into posi tion to be operated upon by the lower l clined surface of the other cam.

7. The combination with a needle cylinder provided with a set of long` butt needles and a s'etof short butt needles; of a cam ring; means for producing a rotary or reciprocating movement of one of said parts relatively to the other; main cams provided at one side with stitch-forming surfaces and at the opposite side with switch-cam Surfaces on different levels; a. cani ledge having` upwardly inclined surfaces to lift the needles after the stitch-forming operation, the surface of said ledge having two levels, the upper of which is separated from the cylinder so as to be engaged by the long` lout-t needles only; an elevating' switch to carry the short butt needles to the upper level 'during the rotary movement; and

means for removing` said switch when the.

change is made to reciprocating movement, whereby the needlesy stand at different levels and are selectively controlled by the switch cam surfaces.

8. The combination Awith a needle cylinder provided with a set of long butt needles and a setof short butt needles; of a cam ring; means for producinga Arotary or reciproeating movement of one of said parts relae tively to the other; a main cam provided at one side withY a stitclrforxning surface, and at the opposite side with a recess, the face of the cani in said recess being inclined inward toward the needle-cylinder; means for y'ieldingly holding said cam in its operative position; whereby a needle butt entering' the recess will move the cain away and travel across the face of the cam; the cam then returning so that 'its stitch forming' surlare is restored to operative position; an elevating' switch surface above seid recess; a supplemental cam corresimndinef to said cant but having its stil'f'h formingand switch` cam surfaces oppositeiy disposed: means for movingsaid supplemental ram into operative position when the reci])Vocatine` movement begins; and means for changing the level of the long and short butt needles at the saine time; whereby the elevating'swtelr surfaces of said cams clear Jdie long bult needles and prevent them from knitting', while the short butt needles are operated by the stitch-forming surfaces of said cams.

9. The combination with a needle cylinder provided with a .setot long butt needles and a set of short butt needles; or" a. fam ring; means for produring a rotary or reciprocating movement ot' one of said parts rohr tively to the other; a main cam provided all i one side with a stitch-torn'iing' surface and at the opposite side with a recess. the tace of the cam in said ref-css being inclined inward toward the needhwylinder; means for yieldingly holding said cam in its operative osition; whereby a needle but-t entering the keeess will move the cam away and travel across the face of the cam, the cam then returning so that its stitch forming surface is restored to operative position; an elevating switch surface above said recess; a supplemental cam corresponding to said cam; but having its stitch-forming and switchcam surfaces oppositely disposed; means for moving,` said supplemental cam into operative position when the reciprocating' movement begins; means for changing the level of the long and short butt needles at the same time, whereby the elevatingswitchsurfaces of said cams clear the long' butt needles and prevent them from knitting, while the. short butt needles are operated by the stitch-forming surfaces ofl said cams; and a picker-finger located between said cam to raise and lower the short-butt needles'for narrowing and widening.

l0. The combination with a needle cylindei1 provided with a set of long butt needles and set of short butt needles; of ay cam ring; means for producing a rotary or reciprocating movement of one of said parts relatively to the. other; a main cam provided at one side with a. stitch-forming surfaceg and at the opposite side with a recess, the face of the. cam in said recess being inclined inward toward the neeiglle-eylinder; means for yieldingly holding' said cam in its ope ative position, wl'ierel'iy a needle butt entering; the rece s will move the cam away and travel across the face of the Cam, the cam then returning so that its stitch forming` sur" an elevating' switch surface above said recess: a supplemental cam corresponding to said rain. but having itsy slitelrforining and switch-cam surfaces oppositely disposed; means for moving said supplemental cam into opera tivo position when the reciprocating movement begins; fnans for changing the level ol' ilu, long' and short butt needles atthe .saaie time; xvhrrelgiy the elevating switcli-surla f 1 id anis ele; r the longv butt needles and pia` um from knitting; While the short bull' needles are operated by the stitchframing surfaces oi' said rains; a pic-kerlinn'er located lh 'een said cams to raise and lower the siret mit needles for .narrowing` and wideiiin(N e )Loud Iiuin Cain lla-V- iner at one side two elevating' switch cam on dilicieni levels and at the op- .de a stitch-forming cam surface; a )ending snilmlemenlal cam having its .li (au: and stitch forming; surfaces oppositcli' disposi-il; a deprw ing cani located brin'ifei. said second .main :f.*l supplemental twas: and met is for moving; zal depressing'ram inli` ihe pal-h of the lone' bultneedles only.

lll The manlination with the needle cyl- :ce is restored to operative position;

mminaton s 5 n, L luder provided *j mit needless and n Set of g 0f 1 'fam' ring@` means for ,mating the said calm ring; inutm :mrled by said Ting nd ruw( 1 w atch ""mn surfaces zumuted to im im 'les uring th rmaim mi? salti c n :flug 'in om: direction, they@ "n 1' 1 cimvurfnc at 15.116,01

i. @ne ft' aid mms adapt: to 75 newlffs nans wherew my r this Mug bu vtl needles,

l Qngqgsd byv said ,ex/ating cam'suz 30 was on 'me o'm'er 1 m' ai; different als; mppmf onding in main @mins affmssmfh the cam :,pplffzmf? m11 mams 'being Switch ocn v/tween 9U "uch 61e- 0.19.; means for mov-- Jam im@ 'the path of the l means fm: with@ :muted u 5:?? amd. @mns sach Cfu to will 3. 1t i.- fg fm-ming und?. S

mlxgmsed g common tu shox-1 bwl-u in@- :mid 11.15

1 @oise :il

` ing agalnst the action of said spring, and names to this Specification in the presence provided with radial progeotmg portlons; a of two Subscribing Witnesses.

finger adapted to be moved into the path of AUGUSTN GAGNE. said radial projecting portions; and a pat- JOHN WV. SHAW. tern mechanism controlling the operation of Witnesses:

said finger. LELLAN J. TUGK,

v 1u testimony whereof, We have Signed our EDITH M. BROMLEY. 

